Retainer for yarn packages



Feb. 27, 1940. e. A. vLAszAc RETAINER FOR YARN PACKAGES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 31, 1938 Feb. 27, 1940. G. A. VLASZAC RETAINER FOR YARN PACKAGES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 31, 1938 Feb. 27, 1940. e. A. VLASZAC RETAINER FOR YARN PACKAGES Filed May 31, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFF-ICE I RETAINER. FOR YARN PACKAGES George A. Vlaszac, Philadelphia, Pa. Application May 31, 1938, sci-a1 No. 210,941

6 Claims. (01. 242-110) This invention relates to improvements inretainers for supporting textile yarn packages during the processing and finishing treatments required to condition the yarn to a state suitable for commercial use.

Textile yarns are invariably wound into packages of' various forms such as cakes, bobbins, spools, etc., for subsequent treatment of the yarn in this packaged form to one or a number of the many procedures, such as washing, desulfuring,

bleaching, oiling, sizing, degumming, dyeing, drymg and other purifying and finishing treatments.

lit is well known that during the various process-. mg and finishing treatments the yarn packages undergo dimensional changes caused by the reaction of the yarns to the processing mediums or agents.

Many types of retainers for yarn packages have been devised in an attempt to develop a retainer adaptable to the various processing and finishing treatments and capable of accommodating itself to all the varying conditions arising in the yarn package as a result of said treatments. A principa-l requirement is ability of the retainer to automatically adjust itself to the aforesaid dimensional changes occurring in the yarn package. There is also the requirement for a construction that will permit a thorough anduniform penetration of the yarn package by the fluid treating mediums during the processing, drying and finishing operations, this affecting the efliciency of the operations and also the time required for their completion. It is desirable also that the retainer shall be of a form permitting its use in all or a majority of the processing and finishing operations so as to avoid as far as possible interruptions in the process. as a whole and possible soiling of or injury to the yarn that may result from extensive handling.

It is common practice, furthermore, in the processing of yarns, to force the fluid mediums under pressure through the yarn package with successive reversals of the direction of flow. In order to reduce the time of treatment, there is a tendency in'this system to employ higher pressures in order to effect a correspondinglyrapid passage of the fluid mediums through the windings. These higher pressures have a tendency to distortthe yarns, particularly'at the ends of the package, and the retainer, therefore, should be of a character to preclude distortion of the yarn arising from this cause.

, A principal object of the invention, therefore, is

- to provide a yarn package retainer that shall which shall be highly adaptable to practically all forms of yarn package irrespective of the character of the yarn, and which shall be characterized by relative simplicity of form and manufacture and efiiciency in operation.

The foregoing and sundry other objects, hereinafter appearing, I achieve by means of the novel construction illustrated in the attached draw-' ings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a yarn package incorporating one type of retainer made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the portion of the package shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing structural details of the baseportion of the retainer; e Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a somewhat different form of package incorporating a retainer embodying the principle of my invention;

Fig. '5 is a plan view of the section of the retainer shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing structural details of .the base portion of the retainer;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a retainer of still another type made in accordance with my invention; v

Fig. 8 is a plan and partial sectional view of the retainer shown in Fig. '7, and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspectiveview showing structural details of the retainer disclosed in the immediately preceding figures.

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, in which I have illustrated a retainer adapted primarily for use with frusto-conlcal rayon packages or cakes of the form produced on spinning machines of the centrifugal pot type, the retainer comprises a skeleton form I composed of a plurality of spaced rods 2 arranged in circular series, said rods converging toward one end of the form whereby the latter assumes a frusto-conical formation. Each of the rods 2 is joined at its opposite ends respectively to the adjoining rods by a transversely offset connecting portion, 3 and 4 respectively; These offset connecting portions 3 and 4 may extend either outwardly or inwardly of the form, and in the present instance the portions 3 extend inwardly-and the portions 4 outwardly, as'shown. This cage-like skeleton form lends itself readily to manufacture from a single strand of wire bent to the required shape and having the terminal ends joined by welding or other suitable means. It is essential that at least the offset portions 3 and 4 of this structure 4 the retainer, particularly -of the supporting'base shall be resilient for the reasons hereinafter set forth.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the form I is secured in the present instance in a base 5 consisting of an annular plate 6 having at its inner periphery radially extending fiangers I which project between the respective adjoining pairs of the rods 2, and over the outwardly ofiset junctures l. Supporting the form I at the under side of the annular plate 6 is an annular retaining plate 8. which is secured against the under side of the plate 6 by means in the present instance of a snap ring 9 of well known character, this snap ring being seated in a recess in a depending flange it of the plate 6 and engaging the outer edge of the retaining plate 8, as clearly illustrated. In the present instance also, the retaining plate 8 is provided at its inner periphery with an upstanding fiange H which extends to the under side of the fingers l of the plate 6. In this assembly, the offset portions Q of the form I are loosely confined in a slot 12 formed between the plates 6 and 8, and are, therefore, free for adjustment between the base elements in the radial direction with respect to the axis of the form.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have illustrated the retainer in association with a cake l3 of spun rayon yarn of the general character produced in the centrifugal pot machine previously mentioned. In transferring this cake 13 from the pot to the retainer, the pot is inverted above the top of the retainer, and with the upper end of the form I contracted by suitable means, the cake l3 may pass freely from the pot to the form. With the upper end of the form contracted, I now place on the top of the cake, IS an annular retaining plate I4 of a form shown in Fig. 2. As therein illustrated, the annular plate I4 'has at its inner periphery radially extending fingers l5 which project between the adjoining pairs of rods 2 of the form and respectively under the intumed juncture portions 3 previously described. Normally and as shown, the cake l3 rests upon the upper surface of the plate 6, and

the annular retaining plate H3 in turn rests upon the upper surface of the cake. Since the form has a substantially frusto-conical shape corresponding to that of the cake I3, and since the normal diameter of the form is in excess of the inner diameter of the cake, the rods 2 will seat resiliently against the inner surface of the cake, the form by reason of its inherent resiliency and adjustability in the base 5 conforming readily to the inner surface of the cake.

An important characteristic of theretainer described above is its high adaptability to uniform radial contraction and expansion. It will be apeffected under the most favorable conditions and with a high degree of uniformity. Furthermore, the contraction and expansion of the formis entirely independent of the other elementsof 5, wherein as previously described-the lower offset end portions of the form are mounted for free sliding movement. The retainer will automatically adjust itself to any dimensional change in the cake or yarn package l3 occurring as a result tration of the yarn package by the fluid treating mediums. The latter may pass freely between the widely spaced and relatively small longitudinal rods 2-and is afiorded free access to all parts of the yarn package without interference. Not only does this make for a highly uniform treatment of the yarn in the package, but also substantially reduces thetime required for the various treating and drying operations.

Still another highly desirable characteristic of the retainer resides in the fact that it is highly adaptable and may be used during substantially all of the processing and finishing treatments, so that there is no necessity for removing the cake !3 until the process has been completed. This avoids the undesirable extra handling of the yarn package previously.necessary by reason of the limitations of the prior types of retainers.

Still another desirable feature of the retainer resides in the excellent support afforded the .ends of the packages by the plates 6 and M. This is of prime importance where pressure is used, to force the treating mediums through the yarn package, since this pressure, if sufficiently great, has a tendency to displace the inner convolutions of the yarn radially with respect to the axis of the yarn package with resultant damage to the yarn within'thisarea and loss due to said damage. Such displacement of the inner portions of the yarn package is effectively prevented inthe above described retainer by the inwardly projecting fingers 1 and I 5 of the plates 6 and Id. In all of the foregoing respects the retainer is ideally adapted to the requirements, and will yield a finished product of the highest standard.

As previ'ously'set forth, it is essential that the offset juncture portions 3 and 4 at the ends of the longitudinal elements 2 of the cage be resilient in order to afford the required radial contraction and expansion of the cage. The longitudinal elements 2 also preferably, but not necessarily, are resilient, and accordingly I propose to manufacture the form from resilient wire representing possibly the most available and least expensive material suitable for the purpose. The Wire may be tempered steel or tempered alloy metal, for example, and may be rubber covered or provided with other suitable protective cover or coating. The longitudinal elements 2 need not be straight as shown, but may be curved or restricted to the use of wire or metal in the form,

and other materials may be employed if desired.

The base 5 and top plate l4 may also be variously made of metal or non-metallic material, and, may vary considerably as a matter of detail form and construction.

The retainer illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is also primarily adapted for use with rayonifilau ment yarn. In this case, for an annular package produced on machines using the bobbin spinning method, the retainer consists of the typical skeleton form IS, the longitudinal elements I! of which in this case extend in parallel relation, forming in efiect a cylinder. The offset juncture portions l8 and IS in this case both extend inwardly toward the axis of the retainer.

In the use of this retainer, temporary ends (not shown) are placed on the ends of the form, these ends being of a character to fit the collecting spindles of the spinning machine. When with these temporary ends in place a yarn package of the required size is produced, 'such, for example, as shown at 20, the temporary ends are removed and are replacedwith shields 2| and 22 shaped to conform to the ends of the package 20, and each provided with the protruding fingers 23 and 24 respectively, which as in the previously described embodiment project inwardly between the rods ll of the adjoining pairs and respectively underthe inturned juncture portions I8, and respectively in-alignment with the inturned juncture points 23 and 24. The manner in which this retainer functions to accommodate expansion and contraction in the yarn package or cake is essentially the same as in the embodiment previously described.

It will be noted that in both of the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, and Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, the retainers may be used individually or in multiple during the various processing operations. For multiple arrangement wherein the packages are mounted in series one above another, the shield I! of each of the retainers shownin Figs. 1 to 3 is designed to seat within the bottom of the base member of the su- Derimposed retainer. In the ,embodiment shown in Figs. 4, 5.and 6, the superimposed arrange! each end of the form 26 is attached an annular 'head, 29 and 30 respectively, each of which in the present instance is composed of an annular plate 3! which embraces the said juncture por- I tions 21 and 28, and is provided at its inner periphery with a series of radially projecting tongues 32, these extending inwardly between the longitudinal elements 33 of the adjoining pairs and respectively in alignment with the junctures 21 and 28. In each case, the heads 29 and 30 are provided with a retaining iplate it which is threaded onto the plate 3| above the juncture portions 21 and 28 of the form, each of the retaining plates 34 having a projecting flange 35 which lies contiguous'to or against the ends of the fingers 32, as shown. The juncture portions 21 and 28 of the form are thus confined loosely in the heads and are free for limited sliding movement in the radial direction so that the form may adjust itself to expansion and contraction occurring in the yarn package.

As previously set forth, the retainers are sub- Ject without departure from the invention to various modifications in form and the materials of which the various elements are made.

I claim:

1. A retainer for textile yarn packages comprising a skeleton form consisting of a plurality of longitudinal elements arranged in spaced annular series around a predetermined axis, each of said longitudinal elements being joined at the opposite ends respectively to the adjoining longitudinal elements by means of a transversely offset resilient loop, said form being adapted to extend through the interior of the yarn package, and

a shield for said package comprising an annular element embracing the longitudinal elements of said form and having at its inner periphery a series of projecting fingers adapted respectively to extend between the longitudinal elements of said form.

2. A retainer for textile yarn packages comprising skeleton form consisting of a plurality of longitudinal elements arranged in spaced annular series around a predetermined axis, each of said longitudinal elements being joined at the opposite ends respectively to the adjoining longitudinal elements by means of a transversely offset resilient loop, and a support for said form comprising an annular structure interlocked with and loosely confining the ofiset juncture portions at an end of the form was to permit radial contraction and expansion of the latter.

3. A retainer for textile yarn packages comprising a skeleton form consisting of a plurality of longitudinal elements arranged in spaced.an-

nular series around a predetermined axis, each of said longitudinal elements being resiliently connected at the opposite ends respectively to the adjoining longitudinal elements, and an annular element fitted to and embracing said form and comprising a plurality of projecting fingers adapted respectively to extend between said longitudinal elements.

4. A retainer for textile yarn packages comprising a skeleton form consisting of a plurality of longitudinal elements arranged in spaced annular series around a predetermined axis, means for resiliently connecting each of said longitudinal elements at opposite ends respectively to the,

adjoining longitudinal elements, and an annular element fitted to and embracing said form at each end of the latter and comprising a plurality of projecting fingers adapted toextend between the respective resiliently connected pairs of said longitudinal elements. 5. A retainer for textile yarn packages comprising a skeleton form consisting of a plurality of longitudinal elements arranged in relatively spaced annular series to form a barrel, said elements being joined together and being supported in the relative positions by means of radially offset resilient loops arranged in two series at opposite ends respectively of said barrel with each of said loops connectingthe proximate ends of two of said elements, said loops having a degree of inherent stiffness consistent with their element-supporting function and projecting in the radial direction from the annulus defined by the proximate ends of the longitudinal elements of the said series to an extent affording the flexibility required to permit a substantially uniform expansion and contraction of the form as a whole by simple radial convergent and divergent movements of the said longitudinal elements.

6. A retainer for textile yarn packages comprising a skeleton form consisting of a plurality of longitudinal elements arranged in relatively spaced annular series to form a barrel, said elements being joined together and being supported in the relative positions by means of radially offset resilient loops arranged in two series at opposite ends respectively of said barrel, each of the loops at one end connecting two difierent ones of said elements and forming said elements at that end into separate adjoining pairs, and the loops at the other end connecting the proximate elements of the said adjoining pairs so that each two adjoining elements of the series are connected at one end only of the form, said loops 

